Raymond Martin

Alleged Crooked Sheriff On Pot-Dealing Competitor: I'll 'Put The Fear Of God In Him'

Justin Elliott | January 5, 2010, 1:42PM

Raymond Martin

Sheriff Raymond Martin once pulled his service revolver from its holster and pointed it at his drug-dealing partner, warning the man there was no "getting out" of their relationship, a criminal complaint against Martin alleges.

We told you earlier about how Martin, the sheriff in rural Gallatin County in southern Illinois, was arrested last May on drug and gun charges for allegedly dealing marijuana that had been confiscated by police.

Martin and his wife and son were charged Monday with murder-for-hire, reportedly for targeting witnesses who are going to testify against Martin. While the details of the alleged murder plot have not been released, we've now dug into the original drug complaint against the sheriff.

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Corruption

Small Town Illinois Sheriff Charged With Pot Dealing And Murder-For-Hire

Justin Elliott | January 5, 2010, 9:48AM

Raymond and Krista Martin (Cody Martin, Inset)

Raymond Martin had been sheriff in tiny Gallatin County, Illinois, for 20 years. So when he was arrested on federal drug and gun charges last May for allegedly running a large-scale marijuana dealing operation out of his police SUV, residents were shocked.

But that was only the beginning.

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